The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-04
ing.
A GREAT VICTORY.

nnal ballot Tor Onlleu 0tdteS senator. IneV |
show majority of two for the Democratic
candidate, and barely enough to elect. Two
wears ago the vote in the Legislature for
United States Senator was: For Daniel W.
Voorhees,, 90; for A. G. Porter ga majority
of forty for Mr.. Voorhees,. Not content
with this majority the Democrats set to work
to increase and insure it for the future To
accomplish this they planned and passed the
gerrymander. The assistance and advice Of
Senator Voorhees, and other Democratic poll
ticians were freely given, and among them
they framed legislative apportionment bill
which was monstrosity of injustice and the
embodiment of political rascality. The object
was to insure the State to the Democrats for
years to come, and this object was secured, or
the Democrats thought it was secured, by |
bill which practically disfranchised fully one
fourth of the voters in the State. It was |
claimed and believed at the time, that the |
bill would give the Democrats seventy ma
iority in the Legislature on joint ballot, in |
spite of anything the Republicans could do.
Senator Voorhees, said, not long before the |
last election, to Senator Camden Of West Vir-
ginia, that he ''should feel personally dis
graced if the Democratic majority in the Leg
islature was less than sixty on joint ballot"
Such were the hopes entertained of the gerry
mauder.
Circumstances made Senator Harrison the
Republican leader in the last State campaign
His position made this natural, and Republic
ans were glad to recognize and follow him as
such. Personally he had no more at stake in
the election than any other Republican for he
is not welded to public life nor in any sense
dependent on office. But as lifelong Re-
publican and the leader Of the party in a diff
icult and doubtful campaign, he was anxious
to succeed. He went into it as he does into
everything he undertakes, with his whole
heart. Senator Harrison does nothing by
halves, and he threw himself into the cam
paign with degree of vigor and determination
that surprised his friends as well as his enc
miles, Accustomed to meet and battle with
difficulties, he recognized the magnitude of
those that confronted the Republicans, but he
was not dismayed and never fora moment lost
heart He believed it was possible to carry
the State and the Legislature as we'll, and he
showed his faith by his works. Comparatively
few Republicans thought it possible under the
gerrymander to carry the Assembly. Senator
Harrison believed it was, and worked to that
end. He was not unaided. His splendid
| leadership developed splendid following; his
earnestness and enthusiasm begot the same
| feelings in other Republicans, and the party
support. It was brilliant campaign. The
! strong points of the Republican cause were
massed and presented in the most effective
manner; the Democracy were kept constantly
on the defensive, and the fighting was forced
all along the line. When the votes were
counted the night of the election they
tenantgovernor, State officers, and seventy six
if not seventy-seven members Of the General
Assembly. The result was splendid revivif-
cation of Republican hopes and the conduct of
the campaign. The Democrats were stunned
and bewildered. Their sheet anchor. the
gerrymander, had failed them Instead of
the seventy majority they were counting on
or the sixty Mr.. Voorhees, fixed as the personal
disgraceful limit, the Republicans had ma
jority of two on joint ballot. AS soon as the
Democratic leaders and managers could
gather themselves together they set about
arresting the tide of Republican victory. In
two districts where Republicans had been
elected dispatches were sent from this CITY
"Stop that nonsense" and messenger fol-
lowed the dispatch post-haste. The nonsense
was stopped. The Republicans were counted
out and two Democrats counted in. This
made difference Of four votes in the Legis-
lature, and gave the Democrats their pre-
tended majority of two. They stole the ma
jority. To maintain it they have resorted to
every species of fraud, and were at last com
PEELED to resort to outright corruption. The re-
suit temporary apparent triumph for one of
the most audacious and elaborate schemes of
political fraud ever devised On its face it is
a Democratic victory, but read between the
lines it is magnificent Republican success.
Senator Harrison comes out of the contest
with his personal honor and political prestige
unhurt. To him the mere possession Of the
senatorship is small consideration. It has
: been large pecuniary sacrifice to him every
year he has held it. and would have continued